Ratzinger a Nazi? Don't believe it

jewscout · Apr 19, 2005

Ratzinger a Nazi? Don't believe it

London's Sunday Times would have us believe that one of the leading contenders for the papacy is a closet Nazi. In if-only-they-knew tones, the newspaper informs readers that German-born Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was a member of the Hitler Youth during World War II and suggests that, because of this, the "panzer cardinal" would be quite a contrast to his predecessor, John Paul II.

The article also classifies Ratzinger as a "theological anti-Semite" for believing in Jesus so strongly that gasp! he thinks that everyone, even Jews, should accept him as the messiah.
To all this we should say, "This is news?!"
As the Sunday Times article admits, Ratzinger's membership in the Hitler Youth was not voluntary but compulsory; also admitted are the facts that the cardinal only a teenager during the period in question was the son of an anti-Nazi policeman, that he was given a dispensation from Hitler Youth activities because of his religious studies, and that he deserted the German army.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1113704370906

Druidus · Apr 19, 2005

Still, he is much more conservative than John Paul, and might ruin a lot of the bridges that John Paul built.

Jayhawker Soule · Apr 19, 2005

Druidus said:
Still, he is much more conservative than John Paul, and might ruin a lot of the bridges that John Paul built.

... which has absolutely nothing to do with irresponsibly journalism. There is no reason to think him any more a Nazi than I am.

Saint Xtreme · Apr 19, 2005

Well, were you a part of the Hitler Youth?

johnnys4life · Apr 19, 2005

Wow. I didn't see that one coming. Lol. I've been telling you guys for how long now that the media is biased against Christians, Blacks, the disabled, the poor, the elderly, and babies? Do you need more examples, maybe I shall go compile a list.

jeffrey · Apr 19, 2005

Anything to sell a paper. I don't believe for a second he is a Nazi. What he went through as a youth can only make him stronger. May he live long. God Bless him.

johnnys4life · Apr 19, 2005

Oh yeah, and shockingly, THEY (the news media) are becoming very anti-Israeli

jewscout · Apr 19, 2005

johnnys4life said:
Wow. I didn't see that one coming. Lol. I've been telling you guys for how long now that the media is biased against Christians, Blacks, the disabled, the poor, the elderly, and babies? Do you need more examples, maybe I shall go compile a list.

j4l,
i don't think most media is biased to a certain group...i think they are biased toward getting ratings...it all comes down to money

jimbob · Apr 19, 2005

Hey folks, don't you people realize that the Nazi's made be children Hitler youth, it doensn't meen the children wanted to be. In fact, Ratzingers father was a policemand who absolutely detested the Nazi's and his entire family did too. Ratzinger is no Nazi, and i expect him to be a wonderful Pope.

johnnys4life · Apr 19, 2005

I can't agree with you there, Jewscout. Look at the political affiliations of all the major news anchors, particularly members of the ap.

Green Gaia · Apr 19, 2005

One word here people: sensationalism.

It doesn't matter if it's true, or even if the they believe it. If it's something shocking, it will sell papers. That's it. I don't think the media looks at any agenda past their bottom line.

jimbob · Apr 19, 2005

The Media likes to bash anyone with morals or scrupuls, and since Catholicism hasa those things, and since it has such a large population, who better to bash?

CaptainXeroid · Apr 19, 2005

jewscout said:
...i think they are biased toward getting ratings...it all comes down to money

I hate to sound so cynical about the media, but I have to concur. When the truth just isn't sexy or interesting enough to sell advertising, it is discarded.

jewscout · Apr 19, 2005

**MOD POST**

me thinks we are getting off topic...lets move this discussion/debate elsewhere shall we?

Jayhawker Soule · Apr 19, 2005

johnnys4life said:
I've been telling you guys for how long now that the media is biased against Christians, Blacks, the disabled, the poor, the elderly, and babies? Do you need more examples, maybe I shall go compile a list.

Perhaps you should.

The article deserves contempt. It constitutes little more than vicious innuendo based on senseless generalizations ... much like your characterization of 'the media'. Hmmm ...

Sunstone · Apr 19, 2005

Nowadays, the news media is in business to provide entertainment as much as news. What shocks is often also entertaining.

Why is the news media in business to provide entertainment? Because that's what so many consumers demand that it provide. And the news media follows popular demand in order to make a profit.

Green Gaia · Apr 19, 2005

johnnys4life said:
I can't agree with you there, Jewscout. Look at the political affiliations of all the major news anchors, particularly members of the ap.

I have no idea what their political affiliations are, and quite frankly I don't care. Why do you assume them to be biased? Are they also biased against not only other political philosophies, all but other religions not their own, all other races and ethnic groups not their own, genders not their own? Just because someone believes one way, doesn't mean they cannot report unbiased facts.

jewscout · Apr 19, 2005

damnit people!
argue media bias here pleasssssssssssse
http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12865

michel · Apr 19, 2005

jewscout said:
j4l,
i don't think most media is biased to a certain group...i think they are biased toward getting ratings...it all comes down to money

I don't know if the same applies in the states, but here we often see adverts of newspaper headlines such as "Elderly widow starts cruisade to save ferulle cats" - whatever. If you actually buy the paper, there is a four line mention about a sixty year old who feed cats in her back garden.
As you say, papers are there to sell - if there is no news, well, make some up!
Had there been a plane crash in England on the Saturday afternoon, the story about the Cardinal would probably never even made it to the press.

SK2005 · Apr 19, 2005

Ratzinger was forced into being a hitler youth. They let him go because he wanted to be a priest.

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